Ocean Blue

Under the Sea

This is one of my recent paintings. I call it Under the Sea, because I am missing the SD beaches. Some days the ocean would look green and then other days very blue. It was comforting knowing the ocean was just a couple miles west of me. But, now I have the great Mississippi river just a couple miles east of me...but it's not the same.

Experimenting with some new techniques that I learned from Mary Beth Shaw's new book. Check it out, it's pretty cool.

Plan to post some of my encuastic paintings that I have created from Judy Wise's hot wax workshop.

Wax On, Wax Off

Cherry Blossoms Balboa Park 2011

Enrolled in Judy Wise's Hot Wax workshop. It's gonna be a hoot. This workshop is what I need to keep me on my creative path. Can't wait to work with hot wax, and my studio has the right kind of ventilation to work with the medium.

Been a while since I posted anything at all. Working on some cool art projects, and will share when they are finished. Settling in out new surrounding in Saint Louis. Really like this city, and feel it is the jem of the mid-west.

Ta Da

Here are photos of my seven year project. Finally got around to posting photos of the dang thing. It took seven years to complete, because I would go six month without working on it. This is my third needlepoint project, and thinking I may do another bag. They are super fun, but very time consuming.

Bag with Strap

Inside Bag and yes hand stitched the lining.

Now it sits in my closet dying to go out with me.

Snippet of the Wedding

My wedding day was fantastic. Everything went well, and truly was one of my more happier days. Just got back from my honeymoon, and was unplugged for almost three weeks. A nice break.

Check out the flower tissues in the background. My mom and her crafty friends made them for us. They were super cheap and easy to make.

We are packing up are home and moving to St. Louis the end of the month. Thus, all art supplies are packed up and in storage. Sniff sniff. Not like I have that much time these days to paint. Just the thought of my tools packed up and lonely....

So Charlie and I are starting the next chapters of our lives. More wedding photos to follow.

Oh yeah, the seven year project photos will be loaded before the end of the summer.

Imperfect

Almost a week from now will be my wedding day, and god willing I make it through this week of work. It's really been the worst week ever at my current job. Difficult to keep things in perspective, and realize that work is not my life. I often think work is over rated...well that is if you have a job that is not your passion. In any case, I feel the title of my painting above suits that way I feel work. Imperfect....why should I care?

On to more important news.....

we are moving to St. Louis the end of July. Charlie got a professor job at Washington University in St. Louis teaching ethics. It's an awesome job, and we are excited about that change, and to finally live in a city that we can afford a house with a yard and storage! I love California, but housing ain't cheap, and you don't get very much for your money.

While we were in STL last month we met up with very talented Mary Beth Shaw and her husband John. Mary Beth was my cabin mate last year at Squam, and I enjoyed sitting by the fire drinking wine, and talking late in the night with her and Judy Wise. I was so blessed to have such wonderfully cool cabin mates! Mary Beth and John have been very kind to offer a place to stay while we get settle in STL in August.

Gotta run to pack for my wedding...next time I write I will be all grown up and married!!

A Month Away...

"Late Summer"

until I get married. Hard to believe the big day is around the corner. I will have some big news to break next week.

Really enjoying this woman's blog entry. It's really speaking to me and what's going on with my life, and some big changes ahead.

Spring Time

This is a card I created this past week for my friends who got married recently. It was quick and fun. I am out of canvas so I re-used some watercolor paper. Trying not to buy any art supplies until after my wedding, because I know I won't be able to paint until it's over.

Really felt like summer here today, and even got a little sunburn. I promise to post photos of my 7 year project before the wedding which is less than two months away!